Patients are hesitant to get vaccinated, concerned about vaccine access

Results of a December 2024 survey from the Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF) demonstrate the troubling rise of vaccine hesitancy, misinformation and concerns about vaccine access, particularly in vulnerable populations.

Of 1,600 patients who participated in the survey (94% from the United States), 11% reported that they did not plan to receive a vaccine during the 2024-2025 respiratory season and 54% expressed concerns about accessing vaccines.

“These aren’t just data points – these are a wake-up call,” Seth Ginsberg, president and co-founder, GHLF, said in an organizational release. “The concerns voiced by patients, particularly regarding vaccine access, highlight critical gaps in our health care system. We cannot ignore the impact this will have on those with chronic diseases, who are already at higher risk for severe illness.”

The survey found that, of respondents who lack confidence in vaccines, their hesitancy largely stems from personal health experiences or general skepticism toward the health care industry. Common reasons cited for hesitancy include adverse reactions to past vaccines, distrust of the government or pharmaceutical companies and concerns over testing procedures.

“The data is alarming,” said Robert Popovian, PharmD, MS, founder, Conquest Advisors, and chief science policy officer, GHLF. “Around 10 or 11 percent of patients with chronic diseases engaged with GHLF have decided against being immunized. This is especially concerning for patient populations that are already vulnerable. The survey results highlight significant issues such as misinformation, mistrust in health care systems and barriers to access that need to be addressed.”

The survey—which was conducted in December 2024, just one month following the 2024 Presidential election—revealed a divide in the perceptions of future access to vaccines following the results of the election. More than half (54%) of survey respondents expressed concerns about their ability to access vaccines and 35% reported positive feelings about their access to vaccination services. According to the report, these fundings underscore disparities that patients face, particularly in rural or underserved communities.

“The [U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)] recently reported a spike in respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19, [respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)] and the flu, with rising hospitalizations and emergency room visits,” Popovian said. “The data is clear: vaccines save lives. We put vulnerable individuals at even greater risk by raising doubts and hesitating to get vaccinated, especially among the populations we serve. We must continue to advocate for vaccine access and education.”

Positive results

With the exception of the 11% of patients who expressed their hesitancy to get vaccinated this winter, the majority of survey respondents have received their vaccines for the 2024-2025 respiratory season:

• 76% are vaccinated against the flu
• 66% are vaccinated against COVID-19
• 26% are vaccinated against RSV

Another 5% of respondents say that they still plan to get vaccinated and another 2% have only refrained thus far due to conflicts with their medication schedule.

Generally, respondents had positive feelings about vaccines (85%). The report clarifies, though, that there is a difference between supporting all or some vaccines. Half (50%) of survey respondents felt favorably about all vaccines, 35% felt positive about most vaccines and 10% were on the fence, feeling generally neutral, or positive or negative toward a few vaccines. About 60 respondents (4%) reported negative feelings about most or all vaccines.

Of respondents who trust vaccines, they cited the fact that they protect them from illnesses, are backed by science, have demonstrated success and are developed by “highly respectable, knowledgeable people.”

Regarding vaccine-related information, 89% of people trust health care providers as their primary source. Government agencies, including the CDC, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are also top sources of information for 62% of respondents. Just 10% and 2% of people trust what they see on the news and social media, respectively.

“The silver lining is clear,” Ginsberg said. “Health care providers are still the most trusted source of vaccine information, which presents a critical opportunity for us to provide credible, accessible and understandable information to patients.”